Will Tiger capture 30+ majors?

[USGolfers]

Back in 1999 I made a bet with my friend that Tiger would easily surpass 30 major wins.

What do you think?

To date (via Wikipedia) here are his major wins

Year	Championship	54 Holes	Winning Score	Margin	Runner(s)-up
1997	Masters Tournament	9 shot lead	-18 (70-66-65-69=270)	12 strokes	Tom Kite
1999	PGA Championship	Tied for lead	-11 (70-67-68-72=277)	1 stroke	Sergio García
2000	U.S. Open	10 shot lead	-12 (65-69-71-67=272)	15 strokes	Ernie Els , Miguel Ángel Jiménez
2000	The Open Championship	6 shot lead	-19 (67-66-67-69=269)	8 strokes	Thomas Bjørn , Ernie Els
2000	PGA Championship (2)	1 shot lead	-18 (66-67-70-67=270)	Playoff 1	Bob May
2001	Masters Tournament (2)	1 shot lead	-16 (70-66-68-68=272)	2 strokes	David Duval
2002	Masters Tournament (3)	Tied for lead	-12 (70-69-66-71=276)	3 strokes	Retief Goosen
2002	U.S. Open (2)	4 shot lead	-3 (67-68-70-72=277)	3 strokes	Phil Mickelson
2005	Masters Tournament (4)	3 shot lead	-12 (74-66-65-71=276)	Playoff 2	Chris DiMarco
2005	The Open Championship (2)	2 shot lead	-14 (66-67-71-70=274)	5 strokes	Colin Montgomerie
2006	The Open Championship (3)	1 shot lead	-18 (67-65-71-67=270)	2 strokes	Chris DiMarco
2006	PGA Championship (3)	Tied for lead	-18 (69-68-65-68=270)	5 strokes	Shaun Micheel
2007	PGA Championship (4)	3 shot lead	-8 (71-63-69-69=272)	2 strokes	Woody Austin
2008	U.S. Open (3)	1 shot lead	-1 (72-68-70-73=283)	Playoff 3	Rocco Mediate

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by USGolfers

Back in 1999 I made a bet with my friend that Tiger would easily surpass 30 major wins.

What do you think?

I think that was pretty bold since he'd only won two at that point in time. Something tells me you wouldn't lay up on a par 5 with the tournament in the balance - kudos!!

[shades9323]

Originally Posted by USGolfers

Back in 1999 I made a bet with my friend that Tiger would easily surpass 30 major wins.

What do you think?

To date (via Wikipedia) here are his major wins

Year

Championship

54 Holes

Winning Score

Margin

Runner(s)-up

1997

Masters Tournament

9 shot lead

-18 (70-66-65-69=270)

12 strokes

Tom Kite

1999

PGA Championship

Tied for lead

-11 (70-67-68-72=277)

1 stroke

Sergio García

2000

U.S. Open

10 shot lead

-12 (65-69-71-67=272)

15 strokes

Ernie Els, Miguel Ángel Jiménez

2000

The Open Championship

6 shot lead

-19 (67-66-67-69=269)

8 strokes

Thomas Bjørn, Ernie Els

2000

PGA Championship (2)

1 shot lead

-18 (66-67-70-67=270)

Playoff 1

Bob May

2001

Masters Tournament (2)

1 shot lead

-16 (70-66-68-68=272)

2 strokes

David Duval

2002

Masters Tournament (3)

Tied for lead

-12 (70-69-66-71=276)

3 strokes

Retief Goosen

2002

U.S. Open (2)

4 shot lead

-3 (67-68-70-72=277)

3 strokes

Phil Mickelson

2005

Masters Tournament (4)

3 shot lead

-12 (74-66-65-71=276)

Playoff 2

Chris DiMarco

2005

The Open Championship (2)

2 shot lead

-14 (66-67-71-70=274)

5 strokes

Colin Montgomerie

2006

The Open Championship (3)

1 shot lead

-18 (67-65-71-67=270)

2 strokes

Chris DiMarco

2006

PGA Championship (3)

Tied for lead

-18 (69-68-65-68=270)

5 strokes

Shaun Micheel

2007

PGA Championship (4)

3 shot lead

-8 (71-63-69-69=272)

2 strokes

Woody Austin

2008

U.S. Open (3)

1 shot lead

-1 (72-68-70-73=283)

Playoff 3

Rocco Mediate

How much is this bet going to cost you?  He will get half way there but not much further.

[phillyk]

At this point in time, I highly doubt it.  But, if he can get his head and swing on the same page, you never know what could happen.  He still has plenty of golf years ahead of him, that is if injuries on his knee or something else doesn't stop him.

[max power]

Even 3 years ago this would have been a silly bet to make.

[NEOHMark]

I'm not so sure he he's a shoe-in to catch Nicklaus' record at this point.  He has exactly the same number of Majors now at age 35 that Jack had at the same age - 14.  Jack won three more by age 40, and then his swan song at The Masters at age 46.

Nicklaus' wins by year:

1962
U.S. Open

1963
The Masters
PGA Championship

1965
The Masters

1966
The Masters
British Open

1967
U.S. Open

1970
British Open

1971
PGA Championship

1972
The Masters
U.S. Open

1973
PGA Championship

1975
The Masters
PGA Championship

1978
British Open

1980
U.S. Open
PGA Championship

1986
The Masters

[Zeph]

30? Easy money for your friend.

Me can catch up with Jack, but 20+ is a lot to ask probably.

[Shorty]

You will certainly lose the bet.

Just wondering - how do you define "easily" surpass 30 major wins.

In my book, 31 would have you losing the bet "easily".

Originally Posted by USGolfers

Back in 1999 I made a bet with my friend that Tiger would easily surpass 30 major wins.

[muggs]

He'll be lucky to win one more. 30? Comical.

[ghalfaire]

I believe that even if he gets his head right, which is questionable, that his physical problems would prevent his getting more than 20 and I believe that is a stretch.  I would bet that even 18 isn't likely.  If I was a betting man I'd guess two more majors but not 3.  Thirty majors, not a chance in hell!

[Shorty]

Originally Posted by muggs

He'll be lucky to win one more. 30? Comical.

Especially when you realise that he'd basically have to have Nicklaus's career starting from now to give him 32.

[Frito67]

This is pretty rash, although one has to credit your optimism!

[Clambake]

Thirty?   As in a "3" followed by a zero?    I hope you don't have much riding on this bet.     The only way Tiger will surpass 30 majors is if he stays healthy well into his 60's and you count the 5 "Majors" played on the Champions Tour (Senior PGA, Senior British Open, Senior US Open, Tradition, and Senior Players Championship.    And even then I'd say its a longshot.

[USGolfers]

Sean, it was the way in which he'd won them. Being in Oregon I'd followed his play closely at the Amateur at Pumpkin Ridge. His game at the time was levels above any other. He was young and unobstructed. Now he's got issues(emotional, psycho., phys.) that hound him during his game. He's finding it more difficult to separate himself from them. If he can find another influence that resembles strength he got through the relationship he had with his dad he may progress through it more quickly.

I think I'm a more management golfer - not so Tin Cup!

[USGolfers]

Shades - Ye of little faith - I should give you his contact info.

[USGolfers]

Phillyk - "The Game" is played between the ears. And when you're on the course it's not always golf. Tiger has a new game or two, in life, to manage before he can play golf well again. That's where an influence like he had with his dad is important, right now.

[USGolfers]

Max, have you met shades?

[USGolfers]

NEOHMark, Now you see why I posted this. I believe he could have a strong competitive game until he's in his mid 50s. But if he can't regain his focus the skeptics may prevail.